Asheville Savings Bank receives leadership award from United Way

Press release

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (March 27, 2014) – Asheville Savings Bank received the “We’ll Do Anything For United Way” award at the Live United Celebration and Annual Meeting in Asheville, NC on February 26. The award was given to the bank for its outstanding leadership within its own firm during the United Way campaign.

The employees at Asheville Savings Bank went above and beyond the traditional call of duty for a charitable cause, raising money for the campaign through bake sales, challenge games, an online silent auction and activities that fostered camaraderie. Additionally, the bank invited its customers to get involved and participate in all of the fun. As part of a contest, bank employees decorated plastic piggy banks, which were put on display at the banking centers for customers that wanted to contribute to the charitable campaign. Asheville Savings Bank paired these activities with educational team meetings aimed at sharing information about the many services the United Way offers.

The campaign rallied bank employees and clients for a great cause and charitable organization that raised a total donation, which exceeded last year’s donation by nearly seven percent. In addition to United Way, the bank proudly supports over 100 local organizations and devotes, on average, 788 hours of charitable and civic activities per month performed by its employees and directors as part of its Community Support Program. To date, the Program has contributed millions of dollars in financial support, and thousands of personal hours to help improve the quality of life for those living in Western North Carolina.

“We are truly honored to receive this award from an organization that has a legacy of advancing the common good,” said Suzanne S. DeFerie, President and Chief Executive Officer of Asheville Savings Bank. “It is a testament to the values and commitment of our leadership team and dedicated employees. We are always looking to create positive change in the communities in which we live and work; participation in the United Way campaign allowed us to do just that.”

DeFerie and Jonna Bradham, Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Coordinator of United Way for Asheville Savings Bank, accepted the award on behalf of Asheville Savings Bank. DeFerie serves as the Chair of the United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County Board of Directors.

To learn more about Asheville Savings Bank and its commercial lending innovative products and services, please visitwww.AshevilleSavingsBank.com.

About Asheville Savings Bank

Asheville Savings Bank, Your Lending Experts, is your local bank. Originally chartered in 1936, the bank has 13 banking centers and approximately 165 employees in the counties of Buncombe, Henderson, McDowell, Madison and Transylvania in Western North Carolina. It is the largest community bank chartered and headquartered in Asheville, Buncombe County. Asheville Savings Bank’s employees and directors volunteer 788 hours monthly to over 100 unique community and civic organizations. Our decisions are made locally and we strive to develop strong relationships with our clients and community. The bank was recognized as a 2013 North Carolina Best Employer from NC Business magazine, and the recipient of the 2013 #1 BEST Bank and #1 BEST Banking Services for Small Business award from Mountain Xpress newspaper. Asheville Savings Bank is an equal housing lender and member FDIC.

About United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County

United Way mobilizes people into collective action through Giving, Advocating and Volunteering in the areas of Education, Income and Health. We believe these are the building blocks of a good life for everyone. That’s what it means to LIVE UNITED! By making results- based investments in our community, we support long-lasting, measurable change in people’s lives right here in Asheville and Buncombe County. You can be part of the change. Join the movement at unitedwayabc.org.